Just the one... He'd only been with us for 3 weeks and we were playing a show which was basically going to be the final test of whether or not we kept him. Anyway, he didnt' show up to the gig so it was a pretty easy decision.

When we got home that night we found an email saying sorry guys I can't make it, good luck with the gig.

Just one... drummer that I had played with for six years through a few different bands... He started getting less and less reliable, showing up 10 minutes before stage time and then having to setup... almost like he was trying to prove that he could partially setup, play some songs, then finish setting up during break... Drum kit started falling into disrepair... Showed up late to a gig... Told him that the next time would be the last... Did it again a few months later... Asta la Vista...

-robert

P.S. Even though I have played with better drummers, I have never played with a more comfortable drummer...

I've only had to fire a few in 25+ years of gigging , but it's always been over drugs or alcohol.
Even after a couple of chances to clean it up , I'd still end up having to fire them.
Don't get me wrong , I'm not a prude and as a matter of fact I could give a rat's ass what anybody does on their own time, but I do this for a living .
I don't show up to my gigs trashed and I expect the same from the people I contract.
I won't tell you I've never worked a gig where everyone was trashed , but I was just a contract player. Your gig , your rules. My gig ,my rules.
I'm going to shut up because this one of my favorite rants , but let me ask a question.
You wouldn't let a drunked up, stoned heart surgeon operate on your baby sister, would you ?
Why should your gigs be any different ?

As a band member, I've been involved in numerous firings which would typically take place at some sort of band 'meeting.' There was only one time where I felt I had to do the firing on my own.

The person I fired is actually one of my brother in-laws. We had played in a few bands over the years, and he was the one who first introduced me to his sister- my future wife. Obviously it was a real touchy situation, as there was family as well as band involved but, after talking it over with my wife, we both agreed that it was the only solution. He was drinking way too much and in the period of over a month he made less than a handful of practices and missed about a dozen. He just was never there. Everyone else in the band were so pissed off at him the they just wanted to tell him to expletive off and die, which certainly wouldn't have helped my relation with my wife's family. So I volunteered to tell him. I was finally able to get him on the phone (I wanted to tell him in person but, at the time, he wasn't the easiest person to track down) and gave him the news. The funny thing was, even though he really wasn't participating in the band anyway, he was still surprised.

I fired a guitarist once who got pissed at practice and started throwing everyone elses gear around the room...he was gone that night.

I was fired recently. I was out of town on business and got a call from a band member that he was thinking of quitting. I said "OK, think it over and let's have a face to face when I got home.". I come home and my wife hands me the local free newspaper. In it is an ad for a band needing a bassist/vocalist ASAP for pending gigs with the phone number of the guy who (I thought) was quitting .

Turns out my schedule wasn't working out for them. Nice way to find out 'eh? BTW, I did call every band member, tell them how embarrased I was, and then told them they could kiss my @$$...now (2 mos later) they are still running the ad, not playing the "pending gigs...which BTW was only 1 per month" and am meeting new people and having a blast jamming with strangers. I have not found my new situation yet but it will come.

I've had to give a few guys the pink slip over the years for various reasons, but you really learn how to handle it once YOU YOURSELF have been fired.

I was fired from a band for the first time a few months ago. Reason: their old bass player who quit 6 months earlier wanted to come back. Of course, I quit another band to join this one, did so on very short notice, and of course there were no complaints about my playing or professionalism. They just had a friendship-history with the guy after several years of heavy gigging, and agreed to take him back when he said he missed it.

Of course, it sucked being out of that band and my previous band. What really sucked was the way they handled it, a total lack of respect. Simply e-mailed me and told me not to show up that weekend, or call and give them any crap about it, the decision was made. Well gee, you're very welcome, guys. No "thanks man", no "farewell round at the bar", not even a freakin' phone call. Left a pretty bad taste in my mouth, for my first firing in over 15 years of playing in bands.

The number one key in letting someone go, regardless of reason, is to treat them with respect and dignity. If you can't do that, then you have no business being the one to tell them. Do it in person, be polite, and do it in such a manner that the person knows that it is a business decision and not a personal slam. They're going to be upset and will disagree with the decision no matter what, but you should show courtesy, if for no other reason to keep from burning bridges in the future, as well as "kindness towards your fellow man".